Food Safety News

The number of broiler flocks positive for Campylobacter in Norway increased in 2023 but is still at low levels, according to the latest data.

Surveillance in 2023 showed that 128 flocks, or 6.1 percent, were positive for Campylobacter.

This is from tests on broiler flocks slaughtered before 51 days of age during May and October by the owner or keeper. There was no information shared on the levels of Campylobacter detected.

The action plan on Campylobacter in Norwegian broilers has been running since 2001. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) is responsible for implementing the surveillance program, while the Norwegian Veterinary Institute coordinates it, performs the laboratory investigations, analyses the data and communicates the results.

In total, 2,100 flocks from 505 farms were tested. Of all farms sampled, 83 had at least one positive flock, and of these, 28 had two or more positive flocks. Of farms with more than one positive, 18 had two positive flocks, seven had three positive flocks, one had four positive flocks and two had six positive flocks.

Carcasses from positive flocks were either heat treated or frozen for a minimum of three weeks before being marketed.

Results are within the range from 2020 to 2022 with 6.1, 5.8 and 4.8 percent positive flocks, respectively. The prevalence is still very low, compared to most other European countries.

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial infectious disease in Norway. In 2023, the number of human infections was around 3,000 cases. Consumption of poultry meat purchased raw has been identified as a significant risk factor.

Grilled food risk assessment
Meanwhile, the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has published a risk assessment on the health risks of eating grilled food.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s current advice on grilling is based on a 2007 assessment from VKM. To give relevant advice to consumers and those who sell grilled food, the agency asked VKM for updated knowledge on the formation of process-induced contaminants in different food products by different grilling methods, and an assessment of what risk this may pose.

Heat treatment such as grilling and frying can create toxic compounds in the food, so-called process-induced contaminants. In Norway, the grilling season has become longer, the food selection has become wider and sales of different types of grills are increasing.

Findings include two groups of genotoxic and carcinogenic substances, heterocyclic amines (HAA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), being formed in higher concentrations in grilled food than in fried food. The occurrence of PAH varies and depends on how food is grilled. Concentration of PAH is highest in very well-done meat with a high fat content, such as pork ribs and hamburgers.

“We find that for most people, there will be a low health risk associated with consumption of grilled food, but there may be some who grill mainly fatty meat products, often. They should grill in a way that reduces the formation of harmful substances,” said Espen Mariussen, scientific leader of the project group.

VKM is also assessing the public health risk from the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.

The parasite lives primarily in red foxes, wolves, raccoons and other canines. Humans can act as an intermediate host. People can ingest parasite eggs through contaminated food or water. It can cause the disease echinococcosis, which can be fatal without treatment. An updated risk assessment will be published in June 2024.

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Barsotti Juice Company, Inc. is recalling certain carrot juices because product was determined to be under processed.

According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 22, 2024, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in California, Connecticut, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, Florida, Virginia and Arizona.

Recalled products:

• Barsotti Organic Carrot Juice 16 oz. and 64 oz. plastic bottles Perishable, Keep Refrigerated, Ingredient: Fresh Pressed Organic Carrot Juice. Flash Pasteurized. 
• Trader Joe’s 100% Juice Organic Carrot Juice 16 oz. and 32 oz. plastic bottles Flash Pasteurized Perishable, Keep Refrigerated, Ingredients: Organic Carrot Juice  — Dist. & Sold Exclusively By: Trader Joe’s, Monrovia, CA 91016 SKU #12598 and 12599

Product Quantity: 11,499 cases

Code Information: Organic Carrot Juice Lot Codes/Best By dates LC-24-025 2/22/2024, LC-24-030 2/27/2024, LC-24-032 2/29/2024, LC-24-037 03/05/2024, LC-24-039 03/07/2024, LC-24-044 03/12/2024, LC-24-046 03/14/2024, LC-24-051 03/19/2024

Consumers should not use this product, even if it does not look or smell spoiled. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to their place of purchase.

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Two state legislatures have been handling bills for selling unpasteurized, raw milk. One in Michigan is stalled in committee, while the other in West Virginia has been approved without the governor’s signature.

It is against the law to sell raw milk across state lines, and many states have full or partial bans on its sale within their borders. Public health officers nationwide and in all states warn against consuming raw milk or products made from it because it has not been pasteurized to kill parasites, viruses, and germs such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Public health warnings say it is hazardous for young children whose immune systems have not yet developed.

Michigan
The bill in Michigan, House Bill 5603, was introduced by Rep. Matt Maddock and read for the first time on the House floor on March 24. It was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations on the same day.

Under 5603, unpasteurized, raw milk could be sold to a final consumer or retail food establishment in Michigan if the raw milk and raw dairy products comply with specific rules.

One of those rules is a warning label that must be displayed in 12-point type or more significant. It must state: “WARNING: unpasteurized milk and dairy products may contain disease-causing microorganisms. Individuals at the highest risk of disease from these microorganisms include newborns and infants; the elderly; pregnant women; individuals taking corticosteroids, antibiotics, or antacids; and individuals with a chronic illness or another condition that weakens immunity.”

The Michigan bill also requires raw milk cooling and temperature holding and sets bacterial limits. It requires that milk-producing animals be tested once a year for brucellosis and tuberculosis but does not specify a testing regimen for other dangerous pathogens.

West Virginia 
A bill regarding the sale of raw milk in West Virginia will become law in June even though Gov. Jim Justice has not signed it.

The bill’s lead sponsor, Del. Mike Hornby, R-Berkeley, called the legislation a “freedom bill” during an interview with From the States. 

“If I want to purchase raw milk from my neighbor, I should be able to purchase and consume that milk,” Hornby told the House Health Committee. “Everybody who drinks raw milk knows it’s raw milk, and they choose to drink it.” Hornby did not address children whose parents give them raw milk.

Speaking against the bill, Del. Ric Griffith, D-Wayne, told West Virginia Watch that it is a bad idea. Griffith cited a list of possible contamination in raw milk, ranging from germs in feces, infected udders, and bovine tuberculosis to insects and rodents. 

“I think Louis Pasteur was right,” Griffith said. “And I think we need to be very careful about the safety of our citizens by not allowing this.”

He added that he understands why supporters want to pass the bill so farms can make extra money.

West Virginia legislators relaxed controls on unpasteurized, raw milk in 2016 when they made so-called herd shares legal. Under herd-share laws, a person owns a portion of an animal or herd of animals and can then receive milk from the producing animal.

The bill requires a warning label on unpasteurized raw milk that states, “Consuming unpasteurized raw milk may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially for children, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and persons with certain medical conditions.” The label must also include the seller’s name and physical address and the date of production.

The West Virginia bill gives the state Departments of Agriculture and Health the right to impose additional regulations that do not conflict with the bill. The final version of the law does not include a contested provision that would have made sellers of raw milk immune to lawsuits and liability for claims related to personal injury for actual or alleged acts, errors, or omissions that occurred as long as the act was not intentional.

By not signing or vetoing the bill, the governor allowed it to become law 90 days after the legislature approved it on March 9.

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Farm Aid is the longest-running benefit concert series in America, and it’s also involved in food and farm policy. 

According to Hannah Tremblay, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Farm Aid supports the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. She’s sent an email blast to all those who attended past Farm Aid concerts, which began in 1985.

Farm Aids policy involvement dates back almost as long; Wille Nelson, the iconic singer, and songwriter in 1986, managed to gather nearly all food and farm organizations in Texas, resulting in the United Farmer and Rancher Congress (UFRC),

According to Farm Aid, “The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is supposed to be where farmers turn to when other lenders deny them loans and is the only option for many family farmers who can’t access credit through commercial banks. “But without basic farmer borrower protections, farmers can face predatory practices, discrimination, and extractive relationships with lenders.

“Luckily, there’s a solution to some of these issues — the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. This act is based on the belief that all farmers deserve fair treatment from FSA, which has not always been the case. The Fair Credit for Farmers Act makes important reforms to FSA, protecting farmers and making them equal partners in the lending process and, ultimately, their farm business’ success.”

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the first Farm Aid concert in 1985 to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and funds to keep farm families on the land. 

Dave Matthews joined the Farm Aid Board of Directors in 2001, and Margo Price joined in 2021. 

Farm Aid has raised over $78 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm agriculture system in America. Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build a vibrant, family farm-centered agriculture system in America.

Farm Aid’s most recent Noble, IN, concert was again sold out.

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The majority of issues discussed at a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting had previously been raised, and only four new topics were discussed.

Delegates at the March meeting of the WTO Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures addressed trade concerns related to food safety and animal and plant health.

Countries raised 49 specific trade concerns, including four for the first time. New issues were requirements around certificates of conformity for processed food products, delays in the publication of requirements to reopen market access, and delays in authorizations for certain enterprises and products.

Russian representatives spoke about European delays in renewing authorizations for fishery firms and fish products. Ecuadorian officials addressed Mexico’s delay in clearing frozen shrimp, and Peru raised Bolivia’s delay in the import authorization process for dairy products. The Philippines supported Korea’s concern about Qatar’s precautionary requirements and measures for some imported foodstuffs.

Existing trade issues

Other concerns addressed pesticide residues, contaminants, endocrine disruptors, veterinary medicinal products, and challenges related to SPS procedures and import authorizations.

Officials from Chile were unhappy about the United States’ undue delays in publishing import requirements for table grapes, while Argentina and Brazil raised U.S. delays in authorizing sweet citrus fruits.  

Animal diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), were also mentioned.

Members talked about SPS activities in Ukraine and import restrictions on Japanese seafood products by China, Russia, and Hong Kong due to the Fukushima nuclear accident. Ecuador and Ukraine shared insights into the use of phytosanitary e-certificates.

The next meeting of the SPS Committee is planned for late June 2024.

Canada supports STDF
Meanwhile, Canada has donated CAN $250,000 (U.S. $184,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) to help developing economies and least developed countries (LDCs) meet global food safety and animal and plant health standards.

Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said Canada will continue to support international food safety and animal and plant health while promoting a fair, transparent, and competitive marketplace.

“This investment will allow more countries to meet international standards that will help them access trading markets and build a stronger, more resilient future.”

The contribution will help pilot SPS capacity development projects in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean and build expertise that will safeguard local public health and facilitate safe trade.

“The donation not only bolsters the STDF’s vital work but also plays a pivotal role in fostering global trade by ensuring a level playing field. Such collaboration enhances trade opportunities, fosters economic growth, and ensures a safer, more resilient global food system,” said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General.

STDF was created by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO), and WTO.

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The number of food and other fraud suspicions discussed by European countries increased in February.

Data comes from the second monthly report on potential, but not confirmed, fraud published by the European Commission. The listed non-compliances may trigger investigations by authorities in EU member states.

The report includes fraud suspicions of a cross-border nature shared between members of the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN) and retrieved from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), Administrative Assistance and Cooperation Network (AAC) and the Agri-Food Fraud Network (FFN).

It covers food, animal feed, food-contact materials, animal welfare, plant protection products, and veterinary medicine.

In total, 104 out of 318 notices mentioned fruit and vegetables. Dietetic foods, supplements, and fortified foods were in second place with 31 alerts, followed by cereals and bakery products with 20 notices. Ethylene oxide was mentioned three times in Thailand, France, and India products.

The majority of issues were detected through border inspections or market controls. A few were based on whistleblower information, media monitoring, and consumer complaints. Twenty were raised during a company’s own check.

Fruit and vegetables were also the top product category discussed in January regarding fraud suspicions. A total of 111 out of 277 notices mentioned fruit and vegetables. Dietetic foods, supplements, and fortified foods were second, followed by cereals and bakery products.

Highlights from non-compliances
In February, a dozen alerts involved the United States. They included titanium dioxide in pastries, sunset yellow in snacks, L-theanine in energy drinks, and groundnuts and cakes for skipping border controls.

Product tampering cases included additives not compliant with EU maximum levels, such as sulfites in shrimp from Spain and Ecuador and ascorbic acid in tuna from Spain. Adulteration examples were other vegetable oils in olive oil, added sugar in acacia, honey, Robusta instead of Arabica coffee, the absence of venison in venison salami, and chicken in place of lamb and beef.

Record tampering incidents featured the presence of milk proteins in vegan chocolate and pork and poultry DNA in a veggie preparation. Traceability defects were also detected in shrimp from Ecuador due to repacking and changing the best-before date.

Other non-compliances included non-food grade oil diverted to food in Ukraine and salmon unfit for human consumption in Norway.

Many alerts were for ingredients not authorized in Europe—often in supplements and residues of pesticides not compliant with EU maximum levels—mostly in fruit and vegetables.

Several notices mentioned an unauthorized operator in China and pork, poultry, horse, and bovine DNA in snacks and noodles. Document fraud of plant health certificates in various fruit and vegetable products from Cambodia and Laos was also identified.

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Eat-Sum-More Inc. is recalling Beef Biltong from the marketplace because of possible Salmonella contamination.

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), this recall was triggered by test results.

The recalled products were distributed in Ontario and Online in Canada.

Recalled products:

As of the posting of this recall, there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Consumers should check to see if they have recalled products. They should not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

About Salmonella infections

Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.

Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever and usually develop within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.

Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.

Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.

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The Atlanta-based Centers For Disease Control and Prevention is ending the first quarter of the year with a handful of active foodborne illness investigations.

CDC is the nation’s leading science-based, data-driven service organization that protects the public’s health. For more than 70 years, the agency has put science into action to help children stay healthy so they can grow and learn; help families, businesses, and communities fight disease and stay strong; and protect the public’s health.

The Listeria Outbreak linked to Queso Fresco and Corina chess, which began active Feb. 6, has led to 26 illnesses in 11 states.  Almost all required hospitalization, and two died. Cheese, cream, and yogurt made by  Rizo-Lopez Foods were recalled to stem the Listeria outbreak

A Salmonella outbreak also went active in February and remained so as the quarter ends. Charcuterie Meats was found responsible. The outbreak spans 30 states, with 87 illnesses involving 18 hospitalizations. No deaths have yet resulted.

An active investigation began Jan. 5.  Coppa and charcuterie meat products containing Coppa were recalled.

The Lead and Chromium poisoning outbreak linked to Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches remains active and was updated on March 22.

The outbreak has 519 cases in 44 states.  Anyone with a child who might have been exposed  to the product should get a blood lead test

And now one should eat any recalled apple cinnamon puree pouches sold under the brands Wanabana, Schnucks or Weis.

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The owner of a dairy company in Switzerland is facing criminal charges about a fatal Listeria outbreak.

The public prosecutor’s office in Schwyz announced this week that it had completed the criminal investigation that had opened in August 2020 against the owner of a cheese factory. Käserei Vogel was closed by the business owner in 2020.

Charges were brought in 20 cases, including negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm, and violation of the Food Act. Proceedings were dropped in 10 cases because Listeria infection did not cause health problems or because victims or their relatives had not filed a criminal complaint. In four cases, the personal details of those affected were not known.

The public prosecutor believes the company inadequately fulfilled its food law control responsibilities. It has requested a conditional prison sentence and fine for the business owner. A trial date has not yet been set.

Incident background
The multi-year Listeria outbreak in Switzerland killed 10 people and was linked to pasteurized cheese products. The outbreak also caused 34 laboratory-confirmed cases. Results of an investigation implicated the Käserei Vogel dairy.

In 2018, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health opened an investigation after listeriosis cases rose. However, officials could not identify a suspected food, and the vehicle of infection remained unknown.

Another spike in infections occurred in early 2020. In April 2020, Käserei Vogel reported to the cantonal laboratory that it had detected Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of soft brie cheese made from pasteurized milk. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the cheese isolate matched the outbreak strain.

Environmental sampling at the production site of Käserei Vogel found Listeria monocytogenes in 11 of 50 samples, and five sequenced isolates matched the outbreak strain. Officials found sanitation shortcomings and persistent environmental contamination throughout the production site.

In May 2020, 26 items, including brie, sheep and goat cheese, and organic cheeses, were recalled, and production was stopped. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) issued a public warning in the same month advising people not to consume affected products.

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Representatives from the poultry meat sector in Poland have responded to reports in the United Kingdom about the risk of Salmonella in products.

Broadcaster ITV and The Bureau of Investigative Journalism said UK food safety chiefs were considering banning some poultry products from Poland because of Salmonella.

The National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce and Polish Meat Association hit back at the claims, saying that Polish poultry meat “was, is and will continue to be safe.” They added national production standards result from rigorous European regulations and quality procedures implemented by companies operating in Poland.

Industry defends itself
“We would like to remind you that state institutions constantly supervise breeding and production conditions at every stage. They carry out many control procedures and ensure that products are fully safe for consumers’ health.

“The entire process is overseen by veterinarians who supervise flocks daily, as well as the Veterinary Inspection, which inspects animals and meat obtained from them. Polish producers have worked long and hard to gain their position and would never allow themselves to question the reputation of Polish poultry on global markets.”

In 2023, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said there had been 200 cases of salmonellosis in the UK caused by different strains of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to poultry meat and eggs from Poland. The agency has investigated more than 90 incidents in the past two years, with two outbreaks linked to eggs and three to poultry meat from Poland in 2023.

Emily Miles, FSA chief executive, and Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer, wrote a letter to the European Commission and Polish chief veterinary officer to raise the issue in late 2023. The UK Office for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Trade Assurance is undertaking an audit of Poland in April 2024 to evaluate the controls in place.

Poland is the top producer of poultry meat in the European Union, and over half of national production is exported. In March, Jacek Czerniak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, met with representatives from the poultry industry to discuss the challenges faced. One topic discussed was developing solutions to reduce the occurrence of Salmonella.

Not just a Polish problem
The National Poultry Council—Chamber of Commerce and Polish Meat Association said that because of the scale of the domestic industry, there are reports in the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). However, Salmonella has also been detected involving producers from countries such as Belgium, France, Hungary, Romania, the Netherlands, Lithuania, and Ukraine, meaning it is not only a problem in Poland.

There were 153 RASFF reports for Salmonella in Polish poultry products in 2023, down from 190 in 2022, when Poland recorded 6,221 Salmonella infections.

In a written question in March, Tilly Metz, from the Greens/European Free Alliance political group, raised hygiene issues in the Polish poultry sector. She asked the EU Commission about future audits to follow up on findings from 2010, 2014, and 2019 and potential action if the situation does not improve.

The National Poultry Council—Chamber of Commerce and Polish Meat Association reminded people to follow hygiene rules and properly handle raw meat. This includes appropriate heat treatment, regular washing of hands and surfaces in contact with raw meat, and correct storage of raw products.

They added producers have HACCP plans in place, and most use additional standards such as IFS (International Food Standard) or BRC (British Retail Consortium) to ensure safety.

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The Food and Drug Administration continues using import alerts to enforce U.S. food safety regulations for food from foreign countries. The agency updates and modifies the alerts as needed.

Recent modifications to FDA’s import alerts, as posted by the agency, are listed below. 

Click here to go to the FDA page with links to details on specific alerts.

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Albertsons Companies LLC is recalling certain Signature Select, Athens, and Cal Pia brand bread because of metal and plastic shavings in product.

According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on March 4, 2024, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in California and Nevada.

Recalled products:

Signature Select, Athens, and Cal Pia brand Bread Butter White Bread 22 oz. loaf

Product Quantity: 13,550 units

• Signature Select — Butter Top White Bread, Best Before: 3/21/24, UPC: 2113019803 
• Athens Select Butter — Top White Bread, Julian Date: 062, UPC: 9999919803 
• Cal Pia 100% Whole Wheat Bread, Julian Date: 062, UPC: 9999900132

Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to their place of purchase.
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Bob Evans Farms is recalling certain Bob Evan’s Original Mash Potato because of the potential for foreign material, specifically red plastic, in the product.

According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on March 4, 2024, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Recalled product:

• Bob Evan’s Original Mash Potato 2lbs (32 oz) 
• Packaged in black plastic tray with clear film and corrugate sleeve overwrap. 
• 6 units per case
• Product Quantity: 410 cases

Code Information: 

• Batch No. 2392939 
• Lot No KCL1 4-18-2024 
• Product No 10000534 
• UPC 75900005349 
• Packer No KCL1 
• Best By 4/18/24

Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to their place of purchase.

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Goldenway International Trade Co. Ltd.’s Enoki Mushrooms are being recalled from the marketplace because of possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results.

According to the CFIA, the recalled products were distributed in Ontario, Quebec and possibly other provinces and territories in Canada.

Recalled products:

As of the posting of this recall, no reported illnesses have been associated with this product’s consumption.

Consumers should check to see if they have recalled products. They should not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause severe and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about possible Listeria exposure.

Also, anyone who has eaten recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. 

Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses. 

Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

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House Agriculture Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) may be making it tougher to pass a new Farm Bill.

Thompson is insisting on including what he calls “a fix” for California’s Proposition 12. He claims the Prop 12 requirements have upset the hog market.

Two agricultural non-profit groups are challenging the Pennsylvania  Republican over the legislation that took effect this year in California.

Thompson recently said the Proposition 12 law has driven up the cost of meat for consumers, flooded the hog market, and “we need a fix there.”

Proposition 12, also known as the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals Act and the Farm Animal Confinement Initiative, put what some have said are unprecedented prohibitions on selling food from farm animals not housed under specific standards.

It was approved in a 2018 referendum, but some provisions did not take effect until Jan. 1 because of court challenges. The California Department of Food and Agriculture said the law prohibits a farm owner or operator from knowingly causing any covered animal to be confined cruelly and prohibits a business owner or operator from knowingly engaging in the sale within California of eggs, pork, or veal from animals confined cruelly.

Thompson told a radio news service that he plans to include language in the new farm bill that addresses interstate commerce. Prop 12 only applies to products sold in California.

“It will keep us grounded in garlic culture science for production methodology, and quite frankly, we’ll make sure we continue to protect state’s rights in terms of practices within the states,” Thompson said, “but when it comes to state commerce, one state cannot impair an entire industry across the country.”

Marty Irby is president of Competitive Markets Action, based in Washington, D.C. The organization’s mission is to shape policy “to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture and competitive markets in the U.S. and to defend against attacks on states’ rights by the federal government.”

Irby has been an ongoing critic of Thompson.

“If Chairman Thompson includes language that nullifies Prop 12 in the upcoming House Farm Bill, then we will do everything in our power to rally the 2,000 diverse opponents of the EATS Act to engage their collective grassroots army of over 10 million individual producers, consumers, advocates, and business owners, to ensure his Farm Bill fails passage on the House floor,” Irby said

The EATS, or Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act, was sponsored in the House by Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, and in the Senate by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas. It aims “to prevent states and local jurisdictions from interfering with the production and distribution of agricultural products in interstate commerce.”

Marshall has 14 co-sponsors, Hinson 35 co-sponsors, all Republicans from Midwestern and Southern states. Their respective bills have been on the committee since last June. Irby said 226 members of Congress from both political parties have stated their opposition to nullifying Prop 12. In August of last year, Irby said, 171 House members sent a letter to Thompson and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member David Scott, R-Ga., while 31 Senators sent a similar letter to Senate Agriculture Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mo., and Ranking Member John Boozman, R-Ark.

It also reported the comments of Minnesota Farm Bureau President Dan Glessing, who said interstate commerce is a concern for one of the top pork-producing states in the country. He’s optimistic Congress can pass a new farm bill with that language this year.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have declared over a multi-state outbreak of foodborne infections from Raw Farms unpasteurized cheese.

The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened 11 people across five states. Five were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure and brain damage.

Raw Farms, previously doing business as Organic Pastures, temporarily recalled its cheddar cheese but lifted that recall before the outbreak was declared over. Epidemiologic data showed that Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese made people sick in this outbreak.

The illnesses started between Oct. 18, 2023, and Feb. 5, 2024, suggesting a long-running problem at the dairy operation. 

The true number of sick people in this outbreak was likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.

The reported number of sick people ranged in age from 2 years to 27 years. Two-thirds of them were male.

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 10 interviewed, 7 specifically reported eating Raw Farms brand raw cheddar cheese. This suggested that people in this outbreak got sick from eating Raw Farm raw cheddar cheese.

Whole genome sequencing, also called DNA fingerprinting, showed that all sick people’s samples were genetically related, suggesting they got sick from eating the same food.

Officials in California, Colorado, and Utah collected various Raw Farm products for testing, including raw milk, raw butter, raw cheddar cheese, and raw kefir. However, the product samples were from different patches that the sick people ate. None of the samples detected E. coli.

It is illegal to sell unpasteurized, raw milk across state lines because of health concerns, but that law does not extend to raw cheese.

• Local and state public health officials nationwide urge consumers not to eat or drink unpasteurized, raw milk and its products because they can carry bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. According to health officials, pasteurization kills the bacteria but does not decrease the health benefits of dairy products. 

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A hepatitis E-positive meat product appears to be behind most of the infections that occurred earlier this year in Finland.

The hepatitis E virus previously detected in sausages from a domestic manufacturer is similar to samples from most people affected by the outbreak at the start of 2024.

This was found during a strain comparison of viruses by the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) and the National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL).

More than 120 people from different parts of Finland have fallen ill in the outbreak between January and March.

At least 42 people have needed hospital treatment. Of the 44 patients, the median age of those affected is 64, and 70 percent are men. One infected person died, but it is not clear what role hepatitis E played in the death.

Product recalls
In March, Kotivara withdrew six products sold since early November 2023 in retail stores and wholesalers. This recall was later expanded to other products and dates.

“We are investigating the origin of the meat raw material containing the hepatitis E virus in close cooperation with Ruokavirasto and local authorities, so that corrective measures can be taken as quickly as possible,” said a company statement.

A THL survey found people infected with hepatitis E reported eating products from Kotivara more often than a comparison group randomly selected from the population.

THL has typed the hepatitis E virus found in samples of 64 infected people. The majority belonged to the genotypes HEV-3f and HEV-3e.

Hepatitis E ends up in mettwurst or salami via a raw virus material. However, officials have not identified the raw material that caused the contamination. The production method is insufficient to inactivate the virus, which is destroyed when products are thoroughly cooked. The hepatitis E virus typically occurs in pigs but has also been found in wild boars and deer.

Between 20 and 60 hepatitis E cases are reported to the Infectious Disease Register in Finland annually. In 2023, there were 33 cases. Ruokavirasto, THL, and local food control authorities continue investigating the incident.

In February, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it monitored the situation after some countries reported a spike in hepatitis E infections.

In January, more patients than usual were seen in Belgium and the Czech Republic. More than 350 cases were recorded in Germany, 63 in the Czech Republic, and 36 in Belgium.

Hepatitis E infection is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). The mean incubation period for HEV is five to six weeks, with a range of two to nine weeks, and can persist for one to four weeks. Symptoms include fatigue, poor appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice. However, some people, especially young children, have no symptoms.

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Researchers in Slovenia have detailed a case of food fraud that posed risks to public health.

The incident involved the illegal use of sulfites in meat preparations and ground (minced) meat in Slovenia in 2019. It was judged to be an intentional act for economic gain.

The case began with a consumer’s notification of an allergic reaction after consuming a meat product. While authorities reacted by intensifying controls on markets and retailers, the risk management and risk communication analysis showed shortcomings, including a slow response time, a lack of recall of sulfite-treated meat products, and an in-depth risk assessment. 

Sulfites were illegally added to food to preserve the appealing red color of meat, giving it the appearance of fresh meat. According to a study published in the International Journal of Sanitary Engineering Research, companies intentionally omitted sulfites from product labeling, posing a risk to people with such intolerances.

Timeline of incident
Sulfites naturally occur in some foods but are used as food additives to prevent microbial spoilage and preserve color. Some sensitive people have reactions such as wheezing, a tight chest, and cough.

The alert started with a consumer’s telephone notification to the Administration for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector, and Plant Protection in December 2017 regarding health problems related to consuming a meal prepared from ground meat. However, this received no response.

A written complaint to the authority was sent in March 2018 concerning the previous phone conversation and the health problems after eating ground meat. At that time, the agency had not received any related complaints or information about ill health.

In April 2018, food inspectors conducted official inspections at retail butcher shops in Ljubljana, where the use of the additive in meat preparations was not established. They did not take samples of meat preparations, and findings were recorded on an official note. Despite his request for information about the complaint, the consumer was not provided feedback.

In May 2019, the authority received a phone call indicating the additive’s use in meat products sold in a national retail chain. Based on this report, an inspector visited this supermarket in June and examined two samples: a meat preparation and ground meat, both of which were positive for sulfites. The inspector did not issue any further orders or inform the food agency’s director.

Findings of sulfites in meat
In June 2019, official checks were also performed at a supermarket in Ljubljana from another retail chain. The person responsible for the supermarket’s meat sales admitted to using sulfites. However, the inspector only made a written note about it, and no sampling was performed. The business destroyed meat preparations on display. The inspector did not order corrective measures or penalties, and the company was not asked to recall meat products.

In August 2019, inspectors began monitoring the presence of sulfites in meat preparations, fresh meat, and fish to evaluate the possible more comprehensive incidence of the practice. Of five samples, one meat preparation test was positive. Based on this result, oral and written decisions were issued, and an offense procedure was initiated; however, a recall was not requested. The inspector also found sulfites in a butcher’s shop, and the retailer admitted using the additive. Two other positive samples of meat preparations were found during the control of a hypermarket in the Savinjska region.

In September 2019, an official veterinarian carried out an inspection. A member of staff at a food company said the use of sulfites had been common practice for a long time. The inspector issued an oral, written, and final decision but did not request a recall.

The relevant Minister only received information regarding sulfites in meat preparations in October 2019, despite authorities receiving a report on the first two positives in June.

Risk management measures dealt with identified cases, but there was insufficient awareness of the health risks associated with the illicit use of sulfites in meat products. Researchers said this may explain why tracing and recall actions were not triggered and why a more systematic investigation of the use of sulfites was not launched.

“There is no such thing as zero risk in food safety, despite the efforts of governments and inspection bodies to prevent food fraud. Nevertheless, all evidence should be collected, and efforts should be made to reduce the risks. Ineffective, improper risk management in this case reflects a lack of effective training for inspectors and internal risk communication,” they added.

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For the first time since the U.S. Bureau of Prisons became responsible for their imprisonment, brothers Stewart and Michael Parnell are together,

The 69-year-old Stewart and the 65-year-old Michael are housed in the low-security prison at Butner, NC. Both men are serving lengthy sentences for their part in causing a 46-state salmonella outbreak traced to peanut butter products that caused illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Michael’s release date is 2031, and Stewart’s is 2038.

Since 2019, both have pursued Motion 2255 filings, the federal Habeas Corpus process that allows federal prisoners to challenge their convictions and sentences on constitutional grounds.

In that process, the last brief filed by the government came in a few days ago, responding to Michael Parnell. “The government does not request oral argument because the facts and arguments are adequately presented in the briefs and the record.” As stated by Stuart E. Walker, the assistant U.S. attorney, an oral argument is unlikely to aid the court’s decisional process significantly.

Walker said the district court correctly denied Parnell’s § 2255 motion because his counsel provided effective representation, and he suffered no prejudice.

Parnell argued that he was deprived of his Sixth Amendment right to the practical assistance of counsel when his counsel did not move to transfer the venue out of the Albany Division of the Middle District of Georgia. He says that pretrial publicity about the PCA investigation presumptively biased all members of the jury venire—even though the district court found, as a fact, that the 12 jurors who decided his case were impartial

Walker says the appeal  poses two questions:

1. Did the district court err in determining that Parnell could not establish a presumption of jury prejudice based on adverse pretrial publicity under Skilling v. United States, 561 U.S. 358 (2010)?

2. Does a showing of presumed jury prejudice, under Skilling, operate to establish both prongs of an ineffective assistance of counsel? Claim, based on counsel’s failure to move for a venue change?

On Jan. 10, noting that it had “previously granted an appeal on the same issues for Parnell’s codefendant [Stewart],” the appeal was  limited to Parnell’s claim that his counsel rendered ineffective assistance by electing not to move for a change of venue.

The District Court denial followed a two-day hearing that was held in 2021.

Over Parnell’s objection, the district court adopted the findings of fact and conclusions of law and denied Parnell’s motion. 

The Stewart Parnell brief and the government’s reply were previously submitted along with the Michael Parnell brief.   With the government’s reply brief to Michael, the case is before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

There’s been no word on whether there will be any oral arguments.

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The number of hygiene and safety complaints received by the Irish food agency in 2023 was higher than previous years, according to statistics recently released.

A total of 7,732 complaints and queries were handled by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Advice Line in 2023.

There were 4,395 complaints from consumers, with more than 1,400 relating to poor hygiene standards, almost 1,200 to unfit food and 1,175 to suspected food poisoning. Overall, complaints rose 8.3 percent in 2023 compared with 4,058 in 2022, which continued an upwards trend over the past decade.

Poor hygiene standards included complaints about staff not having hair covered during food preparation; toilets being dirty; staff handling food and cash with the same gloves; food unprotected from contamination; dirty fridges; food not being stored correctly; visibly dirty premises; and rodents spotted.

Unfit food means food that is not safe to eat due to issues such as foreign body contamination. Commonly reported objects in food were plastic; hair; insects; glass; stones and wood.

Examples include an insect found in instant noodles; a snail in coleslaw; a dead mouse in strawberries; a piece of bone in a chocolate bar; worms in frozen dumplings; a piece of plastic inside a pepper; part of a latex glove in a bag of spinach; glass in a loaf of bread; metal shavings in takeaway noodles; and a metal pin in a prepacked salad. Other complaints covered meats not cooked completely; food that smelled or tasted off; items sold past their use-by date; and mold.

Importance of public reports
For reports of suspected food poisoning, chicken; beef; fish; and shellfish were the main foods mentioned. Complaints were also made because of labeling issues, allergen information and unregistered food businesses.

Dr. Pamela Byrne, FSAI chief executive, said it was important for the public to make complaints, so that any food safety issues can be addressed.

“It is crucial for food establishments to maintain high standards of food safety practices, and reports made by the public greatly assist environmental health officers, veterinary and agricultural inspectors, sea-fisheries inspection officers, and laboratory staff in their work,” she said.

“While routine inspections are carried out regularly, reports from the public help to identify specific issues, ensuring swift identification of potential threats to public health. The increase in complaints reflects a growing awareness among the public of their right to safe food and the importance of high standards of food safety and hygiene.”

The FSAI’s Advice Line also offers advice and information and there were 3,337 queries in 2023 from people working in the food industry; food safety consultants; researchers; consumers; and others. Popular topics included how to start a food business; requests for FSAI publications; food labeling information; best practice in food businesses; food safety training; and import/export information.

Belgian complaint data
In Belgium, the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) consumer contact point received 4,865 complaints in 2023. This is similar to the 4,998 reports in the previous year.

Hygiene and the risk of food poisoning are the main reasons given for calls. FASFC said the number of reports demonstrated growing public awareness about food safety. The agency considers the complaints to be important signals regarding possible food safety problems on the ground.

About a third of complaints fell into the hygiene category. These are from consumers who doubt the general cleanliness of an establishment, the hygiene of staff or suspect the presence of pests.

The second largest category concerns people who have fallen ill and believe it was caused by eating a particular item. This type of complaint saw a slight peak in August 2023, probably because of the high temperatures, which is a factor in cases of food poisoning.

More than 90 percent of complaints were handled by FASFC within 30 days. In more than half of the checks carried out following a consumer complaint, issues raised were found to be justified. In a few of these controls, shortcomings other than those mentioned in the complaint were noted.

FASFC, also known as AFSCA and FAVV, said complaints are processed anonymously and anonymity is respected by inspectors.

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